Hidden Sleeve Zipper for Tailored Clothing

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a non-outerwear garment having at least one sewn seam on a sleeve of the garment and at least one said sleeve has an upper arm portion, a lower arm portion, and a cuff portion. A zipper extends from at least the upper arm portion through the lower arm portion and comprises a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth/coils has an open and a closed configuration, and in an at least partially closed configuration, a respective closed portion of the zipper or a fully closed zipper is substantially indistinguishable from the at least one seam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Garments which have sleeves to cover the arms of a wearer have, ofcourse, been known and used for thousands of years. However, the sleevesof such garments, while providing dignity to the wearer and protectionfrom the elements, are often difficult to move away from the arm whendesired. It is often not practical, socially acceptable, or desirablefor a wearer to switch to a short-sleeved or other garment when thewearer wants to remove the garment from covering his arm.

Prior art garments, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,999 to Lurry disclosemodular clothes, whereby attachment means which are transverse to thelength of an arm are provided to disconnect sleeve fabric from the restof the garment. Other garments, such as are shown and described in U.S.Pat. No. 4,569,089 to Nesse, and sweaters known in the art are designedas bulky and heavy outerwear garments. The Nesse device, for example, isdesigned to change from a long sleeve to a no sleeve garment and hasvisibly different connections between the detachable or rollablesections of the jacket garment compared to a common jacket.

Many of these prior art garments further have visible zippers which arenot suited or acceptable for wear in a professional setting. However,for those who wear tefillin (phylacteries), access to both the upper andlower arm is needed, typically, while wearing common articles ofclothing such as long sleeve shirts.

FIG. 1A shows a prior art garment with zipper sleeve in a closedconfiguration. FIG. 1B shows a prior art garment with zipper sleeve inan open configuration. Sleeve 10 comprises a closed zipper 20, cuff 12,and tab 22. By pulling the tab 22 along the closed zipper 20, the openzipper 24 emerges, allowing access to the arm. However, both the zipper20 and tab 22 are visible at all times. Such a garment is not practicalfor professional use or many social settings. Outerwear garments, suchas this sweater, provide little gain to a user needing quick access tothe arm while being able to quickly reconfigure or assemble theirgarment, because such garments are designed to be worn over othergarments which do not have such removable features.

Therefore, a garment is needed which is substantially indistinguishablefrom garments which are already worn by individuals so as to be sociallyacceptable, while providing the benefit of being able to remove aportion of a garment covering a wearer's arm when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a non-outerweargarment, such as a shirt, which is as similar as possible, at least inoutward appearance, to long sleeve garments commonly worn, while havingthe ability to easily access the naked flesh of the arm of the wearer.

An embodiment of the invention is a non-outerwear garment. The garmenthas at least one sewn seam on a sleeve of the garment, and at least onesaid sleeve has an upper arm portion, a lower arm portion, and a cuffportion. A zipper extends from at least the upper arm portion throughthe lower arm portion and comprises a plurality of teeth. The pluralityof teeth/coils has an open and a closed configuration, and in an atleast partially closed configuration, a respective closed portion of thezipper or a fully closed zipper is substantially indistinguishable fromthe at least one seam.

The at least one sewn seam may be a seam sewn on a cuff, on eithersleeve, and/or may be at least a portion of a seam connecting a sleeveto the body of the garment. Substantially indistinguishable is definedas having an appearance such that at least a casual observer viewing aclosed zipper in an embodiment of the invention would believe that he orshe was looking at a sewn seam and/or that the garment is a regulargarment such as a button down shirt or dress shirt (i.e., a tailoredshirt).

In embodiments of the invention, the zipper extends to the cuff. Thecuff may further comprise a button and buttonhole adapted to receive thebutton. The zipper may terminate at the cuff. The garment has twosleeves, and only one or both sleeves may comprise the zipper.

A method of manufacturing a dress shirt proceeds by fixedly attaching aproximal end of a sleeve to a body of a shirt via a first sewn seamextending around a proximal end of the sleeve. A cuff is fixedlyattached to a distal end of the sleeve and has a button and buttonhole.A zipper extends at least partially between the first sewn seam and thecuff.

The zipper may extend at least from the first sewn seam to the cuff, ora second sewn seam may extend from the body of the shirt towards thecuff, and the zipper extends from the second sewn seam to the cuff. Thezipper may be invisible (not perceived by) to an ordinary observer ofthe shirt. The second sewn seam and an outer portion of the zipper maybe substantially indistinguishable, meaning that an ordinary observerwould think that he or she is looking at one consistently sewn seam.

A garment of an embodiment of the invention may be a non-outerweargarment and may be a dress shirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a prior art garment with zipper sleeve in a closedconfiguration.

FIG. 1B shows a prior art garment with zipper sleeve in an openconfiguration.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a garment of an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 shows a blown up view of a portion of the sleeve shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a blown up view of the cuff area of the garment shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a garment of an embodiment of the invention comprising asleeve in an open configuration.

FIG. 6 shows the garment of the invention being closed in an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 7 shows an underarm view of a garment of the invention in anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a blown up version of a shoulder area of a garment of anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an embodiment of the invention used inconjunction with tefillin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise a non-outerwear garment, such as ashirt, which is indistinguishable or substantially indistinguishablefrom common garments worn in the workforce or marketplace, the garmentcomprising a sleeve terminating in a cuff with buttons and buttonholesand a longitudinal zipper extending therefrom, allowing for access tothe arm while the shirt and sleeve are worn by a person. The zipper issubstantially invisible to others in a closed configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a garment of an embodiment ofthe invention. The drawing shown in FIG. 2 is a common shirt 100, savefor the novel features of the invention. Shirt 100 may be a dress shirt.Dress shirts are generally tailor fitted (made according to thespecifications of an individual), designed to be worn indoors andoutdoors, may be worn as the only or a primary upper body garment, andcomprise one or more elements such as a collar 102, button down front106, sleeve 110, cuff 112, and button (and buttonhole) 114 on the cuff.Dress shirts and others generally further comprise a plurality of sewnseams (stitching in the fabric attaching two pieces of previouslyunattached fabric to each other), such as seam 104 which attaches thesleeve of the shirt to the body of the shirt. Other sewn seams aregenerally found down the length of the arms, around a front pocket, ifany, around either side of a cuff, down the side of the shirt, along thetop and lower parts of the shoulder, near the periphery of the collar orends of the shirt, and so forth.

FIG. 3 shows a blown up view of a portion of the sleeve shown in FIG. 2.The sleeve 110 comprises a seam 120. The seam is substantially or whollyindistinguishable from at least one other seam of the shirt, such asthose described above; however, part or all of the fabric of the sleeve110 is held together by a zipper. The seam 120 extends longitudinallydown the length of the sleeve from the shoulder portion (at or near seam104) towards or to the cuff 112 and is attached with a hidden zipper,that is, a zipper whereby at least some or all of the closed partsthereof are not ordinarily seen by the naked eye or casual observer ofthe shirt 100 when the zipper or part thereof is in a closedconfiguration. The seam 120 substantially resembles or appears identicalto at least one other seam on the shirt 100, such as the correspondingseam on the other sleeve. The seam 120 may also comprise a sewn portion(such as is common on seams of shirts in the prior art) and a zipperportion, which are substantially or fully indistinguishable from eachother in the closed configuration.

In order to achieve the low or non-existent visibility of the zipperfrom the outside of the garment, a bottom stop (end of the zipper) maynot be used or may be sewn underneath the fabric of the shirt 100itself, so as not to cause a noticeable protrusion. Further, the zipperteeth may be coils (a continuous wrap of nylon filaments, for example)to avoid bulk or visibility. A concealed coil or invisible type zippermay be used. For purposes of this disclosure, the “teeth” or “coils” ofa zipper are used interchangeably. The tape of the zipper, that is, thefabric on either side of the teeth or coils of a zipper, is fabric ofthe shirt 100 itself or is sewn underneath the fabric of the clotheswith stitching which is not visible from the outside of the shirt orstitching that matches a seam of the shirt.

Further (non-functional) stitching may be desired and used inembodiments of the invention, so as to allow the seam 120 or area aroundthe seam to match another seam on the garment or match another stitchedpattern on the garment, resulting in the seam 120 being even moreindistinguishable from that of other seams on the garment. Substantiallyany type of concealed zipper device known in the art, such as disclosedin U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0214614 to Okot, and any type ofstitching known in the art may be used to carry out embodiments of theinvention to make a zipper invisible and/or the seam 120 or a partthereof substantially indistinguishable from other seams of the shirt100 or other garment.

FIG. 4 shows a blown up view of the cuff area of the garment shown inFIG. 2. The seam 120 extends to the cuff where the tab (the handle whichis pulled by a user to open and close the zipper) is tucked under thecuff 112 to further ensure that the seam 120 is indistinguishable fromat least one other seam or sewn portion of seam 120. In this manner, theuse and functionality of the cuff is retained, the overall look andcharacter of the shirt are unchanged from that of other shirts, such asdress shirts, known in the art, and the increased functionality ofhaving the ability to access at least a portion of the arm in the mannershown and described in this disclosure is gained.

FIG. 5 shows a garment of an embodiment of the invention comprising asleeve in an open configuration. The open zipper 122 has been emboldenedfor purposes of viewing clarity; however, it should be understood thatin embodiments of the invention, the open zipper 122 appears merely as alength of teeth (or coils) matching the color or overall appearance ofthe shirt itself, and that the size thereof may be smaller than thatshown, such as 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, and so forth. Theteeth (or coils) are imperceptible when closed and may be hidden beneathsewn stitching, the stitching being sewn for decorative purposes only orlacking the formation of a seam.

The zipper 122 extends from a lower arm portion through at least part ofthe upper arm portion. The lower arm portion is the portion of thesleeve 110 which covers from the elbow to the wrist. The upper armportion is the portion of the sleeve 110 which covers from the elbow tothe shoulder. The zipper extends through the lower arm portion and atleast partially into the upper arm portion thereof, or may extendthrough the upper arm portion and terminate adjacent to, or at a seamconnecting, the sleeve 110 to the body of the shirt. In this manner, indifferent embodiments of the invention, the zipper extends to variouslengths over the upper arm portion of an arm and is designed such that,in a fully unzipped configuration, the sleeve 110 will continue to covera desired portion of the upper arm. Still further, the unzipped portionof the sleeve, by way of gravity, falls over the upper and, in somecases, portions or all of the lower, arm (such as when the cuff buttonis placed into the button hole 114 or is otherwise engaged or closed),and allows access to a portion of the upper and lower arm, whilecovering other portions of the upper and lower arm for purposes ofwarmth or another need or desire of the user to continue to cover asmuch of the body as possible (such as a religious need).

FIG. 6 shows the garment of the invention being closed in an embodimentof the invention. A pull or tab (not shown) is held between fingers ofthe user and the zipper is pulled towards the cuff and may be pulled tothe cuff, where the pull or tab of the zipper may be hidden beneath thefabric of the cuff 112. The button and button hole 114 may also beengaged. In this manner, the sleeve 110 may substantially cover the skinof the arm (i.e., more than half) in the zipped or unzippedconfiguration, and still further, may be fully zipped or unzipped whenthe shirt is worn, while both separately allowing the cuff to be openedand closed and the user to have a regular day-to-day garment, in thatsuch a garment may be worn to school or work and is indistinguishable,at least in a closed configuration, from prior art garments such asshirts.

FIG. 7 shows an underarm view of a garment of the invention in anembodiment of the invention. The zipper 120 (drawn for illustrationpurposes, though less visible or not visible in embodiments of theinvention) extends from the cuff to the upper arm portion of the sleeve110. In this embodiment, a portion of the upper arm area of the sleeveis attached to itself by way of a sewn seam, and the zipper 120 abuts,adjoins, or is connected to the sewn seam. In this manner, when viewingfrom the outside of the shirt, such as when the shirt is being worn, thesewn seam and zipper portion of the seam appear to be unitary fasteningmechanisms and are substantially indistinguishable from each otherand/or from a sewn seam on a second sleeve.

FIG. 8 shows a blown up version of a shoulder area of a garment of anembodiment of the invention. Connecting seam 104 is a sewn seamattaching the sleeve 110 to the body of the shirt 100. Seam 120 connectsthe fabric of the sleeve to itself and is comprised of either, a) a sewnseam and a zipper seam, b) a completely sewn seam, or c) a completelyzipper seam. One sleeve of the garment may be one of the above and theother seam may be another of the above in any combination. Theconnecting seam 104 may be used as a stop of the zipper.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an embodiment of the invention used inconjunction with tefillin. Tefillin, also called phylacteries, are twoblack leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed withbiblical verses. The arm-tefillin, or shel yad, is worn on the upperarm, while the head-tefillin, or shel rosh, is placed above theforehead. Embodiments of the invention allow a wearer to put thetefillin on the upper arm while having a sleeve 110 drape down over thearm. With common shirts known in the art (those having a sewn seamextending from the shoulder or proximal area of the sleeve through tothe cuff or distal area of the sleeve), the sleeve cannot be effectivelyplaced over both the tefillin and the arm. However, it is desired, suchas in cold weather or for religious purposes, to have as much of theskin of the arm covered as possible. As a person only wears tefillin onone arm, in embodiments of the invention, the zipper is only on a singlesleeve.

While the invention has been taught with specific reference to the aboveembodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat changes can be made in form and detail without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention. The described embodiments are tobe considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of themethods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are alsocontemplated and within the scope of the invention.

1. A non-outerwear garment comprising: at least one sewn seam on asleeve of said garment; at least one said sleeve comprising an upper armportion, a lower arm portion, and a cuff portion; a zipper extendingfrom at least said upper arm portion through said lower arm portioncomprising a plurality of coils; said plurality of coils having anopened and a closed configuration; and in an at least partially closedconfiguration, a respective closed portion of said zipper issubstantially indistinguishable from said at least one seam.
 2. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein in a fully closed configuration said zipperis indistinguishable from said seam.
 3. The garment of claim 1, whereinsaid garment is a button-down shirt.
 4. The garment of claim 1, whereinsaid zipper extends to said cuff.
 5. The garment of claim 4, whereinsaid cuff further comprises a button and buttonhole adapted to receivesaid button.
 6. The garment of claim 5, wherein said zipper terminatesat said cuff.
 7. The garment of claim 1, wherein said at least onesleeve is two sleeves and one sleeve comprises said zipper.
 8. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein said zipper terminates at a seam of saidshirt and said seam of said shirt is a stop.
 9. A method ofmanufacturing a dress shirt comprising the steps of: fixedly attaching aproximal end of a sleeve to a body of a shirt via a first sewn seamextending around a proximal end of said sleeve; fixedly attaching a cuffcomprising a button and buttonhole to a distal end of said sleeve;providing a zipper extending at least partially between said first sewnseam and said cuff.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said zipperextends at least from said first sewn seam to said cuff.
 11. The methodof claim 9, wherein a second sewn seam extends from said body of saidshirt towards said cuff, and said zipper extends from said second sewnseam to said cuff.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least whensaid zipper is in a closed configuration, said second sewn seam and anouter portion of said zipper are substantially indistinguishable. 13.The method of claim 9 where said zipper in a closed configuration isinvisible to an ordinary observer of said shirt.
 14. A tailored garmentcomprising: a sleeve comprising a proximal end, said proximal endcomprising a seam fixedly attaching said end to a body of said garment;said sleeve further comprising a second seam extending from saidproximal end generally towards a distal end of said sleeve; and a zipperdistally extending from a distal end of said second seam.
 15. Thegarment of claim 14, wherein said zipper terminates substantially at acuff.
 16. The garment of claim 14, wherein, at least when viewed fromthe outside, closed portions of said zipper are substantiallyindistinguishable from said second seam.
 17. The garment of claim 14,wherein said garment comprises two sleeves comprising said first seam,said second seam, and said zipper.
 18. The garment of claim 14, whereinsaid garment comprises two sleeves and only one sleeve comprises saidzipper.
 19. The garment of claim 14, wherein said garment is anon-outerwear garment.
 20. The garment of claim 19, wherein said garmentis a dress shirt.